NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio -- A new director for the senior center in North Ridgeville has been appointed due to the death of the former director, Rita Price. Price had been the director for the past 15 years.

Meredith Brescilli is the newly appointed director, having come from her job as program supervisor within the city's parks and recreation department. She had worked with seniors in a former position in the city of Barberton, she said, so she approached the mayor and safety service director about the director's position.

"I told them I was in the parks and recreation department for three years and I live here now and want to stay here," she said.

Brescilli brings knowledge of seniors' needs to her new job. In Barberton, she said, the parks and recreation offices were inside an adult facility.

"So, I did some senior programming for five of the seven years I was there. What I learned," she said, "was how much they enjoy having some place to go and to socialize in a safe place."

When asked if there are any changes she would like to make at the North Ridgeville center, Brescilli shared her list of ideas.

"I would like to start some cooking classes," she said. "I would also like to see some movie days, maybe even a sort of field day like the schools have."

Field day activities such as ring toss and egg-on-a-spoon would all be just for fun, but still get everyone outside and moving around, she said.

She also would like to purchase a Wii for indoor virtual sports. The Wii is a home video game console that can provide virtual experiences in sports such as golf, bowling and tennis.

"They are moving around," said Brescilli, "and there is some competition, but no one gets hurt."

Brescilli has also been thinking about new bus trips to offer the seniors and has passed along some ideas that might reach more people, such as a trip to downtown Cleveland to the Great Lakes Theater on East 14th Street to see plays or a trip to the Scene 75 Entertainment Center in Brunswick, where they can play mini-bowling and golf and then have lunch.

"Something fun and different," she said.

Brescilli will supervise a staff of three full-timers, including Shelly Sullinger, the activities coordinator; a case manager that does home visits to seniors; and a full time cook. The staff also includes a part-time cook for the kitchen and a part-time bookkeeper.

"We rely heavily on volunteers," she said. "We have about 200, but always need more."

Brescilli said volunteers can always work within whatever time they may have available, whether delivering meals to shut-ins, helping to serve food at the center or working at the front desk, just to name a few.

"Even if you have only an hour a week available," she said, "we can work with you.

"The services we offer here at the North Ridgeville Senior Center are invaluable to our seniors," said Brescelli. "Our transportation program allows seniors who can no longer drive the ability to come and enjoy our activities or allows them to do their grocery shopping on their own. Without this service, they would be relying on another agency to provide these services that they may not be able to afford.

"It is important to us here at the North Ridgeville Senior Center to reach as many seniors as possible that are looking for somewhere to socialize and be active in a safe environment."